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The latest challenge in the Martin family came in the form of a five-week cross-country tour. Sharon and I packed up 18-month old Jack, 5-week old Luke, our dogs, Roman and Maggie, and drove from Boston to Florida...via Colorado. En route west I spoke at several engagements for The Hartford and also in Breckenridge a week after we reached Boulder.
We made the first section of the trip in the Subaru Legacy wagon, which we traded in for, you bettcha, a minivan - a 2006 Toyota Sienna - through my good friend Steve Doersam at Boulder Toyota-Scion. This made the rest of the trip immensely more enjoyable.
In Boulder I got some really good rides in (yep, brought my bike) back in the old neighborhood and had a fantastic couple days skiing great snow up in Summit County.
From Colorado we drove a bit out of the way to St Louis for another Hartford engagement before heading to Birmingham for a couple nights to ride with my Paralympic teammate Ron Williams.
Then off to Ft Myers where we introduced my father and his girlfriend to his latest grandson (Luke), stayed 10 days, rode a bunch with a group of guys I met down there, and enjoyed Christmas without snow. On Christmas Eve we had our toes in the sand at Bonita Beach!
We arrived back in Masschusetts on Dec 30 at 5pm. At 5:30 pm I was shoveling the snow from the driveway... We had a great time, saw lots of friends all over the country and made the most of Sharon's time off for maternity leave. Before we left everyone told us we were crazy, but you know what?, we'd do it again if we had another chance! Something tells me we will one day.
The triathlon season ended for me on September 2 at the World Championships in Hamburg, Germany. Things went well despite my bike not making the trip. I won. Click here to read about this race and these two races below.
I raced my second half Ironman on the year on August 19 - The Timberman Triathlon took place just south of Lake Winnepesauke, NH. I relearned the importance of training for distance events as the hilly bike course kicked my butt and I experienced something fairly uncommon in my little race world: getting passed by many competitors on the latter half of the bike and much of the run. (Too little training sometimes is not such a good thing.)
My best ever sprint triathlon finish came on August 4 on Block Island, RI. Of the 458 competitors, I finished 11th overall and 2nd in my age-group. And the awards only went one deep!!!
On July 22 I raced the Physically Challenged Triathlon National Championships - the race within the race at the New York City Triathlon. While I stopped the clock at 2:15:22 (my 2nd best time ever, best was eight years ago) what I'm most happy about is getting there before One Arm Willie Stewart! Click here for the story.
On June 24, I competed Ironman Coeur d'Alene. In short I finished in 11:03. Not particularly happy with that time, but it was my 10th Ironman finish line and, frankly, that feels real good! Click here for the race report.
Two weeks prior, I established a new personal best at the Half Ironman distance at Eagleman 70.3: 4 hrs, 41 min, 44 sec. Click here for the race report.
When I'm not training or spending time with Jack and Luke, which I do a generous amout of since Sharon's got the anethesiology residency going (lots of hours, indeed), I'm continuing to build the public speaking career. It's the speaking that has allowed for us thrive with large home addition and all those other bills.
The Challenged Athletes Foundation has launched a program called Operation Rebound, designed to help disabled veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars return to an active lifestlye. In essence they are providing four months of free coaching, through Amplitude Multisport (my online coaching company), to those who request it. If you feel you qualify, contact Jill Prichard and ask for a grant application. I have received the honor to lead them through the sport of triathlon as the official coaching company of CAF.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my site. Whether you'd like to inquire about having me visit your company or school, get an idea what’s possible with a prosthetic leg, gather some information about my book, One Man’s Leg, or are checking in to see where my travels are taking me these days, I appreciate your interest.
I’d like you all to know why it is I do what I do. I compete in triathlon, cycling and running events for two very simple reasons: I enjoy it and because the opportunity is there. I speak to groups of all sorts and sizes across the country because I truly believe that what I have to say needs to be heard, and - with honesty as a platform in my life - because speaking has become a wonderful occupation!
This platform I refer to is itself quite simple. I believe in and live by the motto “do what you love, love what you do.”
Like many of you, I was not always so sure of how I would live my life, how I would pay the bills, what type of occupation I would have. I’ve been on many courses, the latest of which brings contentment and comfort. Which is a real degree of success no matter how you slice it.
On December 12, 1992, I survived a car accident of my own creation: I had a couple of beers at dinner and fell asleep at the wheel on the way home. This changed my life, quite unexpectedly, for the better. I’m an athlete again; better than I used to be. I have been given the opportunity to share my story and motivate others.
Finally, remember what we have all heard from countless others, "life is good."
Wishing you all the very best of what life has to offer.
Paul |
